On Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at 1:49:18 PM UTC-8, Robin Miller wrote:
> phlash74 wrote:
> > On Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at 11:33:06 AM UTC-8, Robin Miller wrote:
> >> Robin Miller wrote:
> >>> phlash74 wrote:
> >>>> On Monday, March 7, 2022 at 5:29:11 PM UTC-8, phlash74 wrote:
> >>>>> On Wednesday, February 23, 2022 at 11:19:44 AM UTC-8, phlash74 wrote:
> >>>>>> On Tuesday, February 22, 2022 at 1:57:03 PM UTC-8, Robin Miller wrote:
> >>>>>>> phlash74 wrote:
> >>>>>>>> https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-2022-nfl-free-agency-landing-spots-pff-top-50-free-agents
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> Full list at the link, PFF predicts the Chargers to re-sign the
> >>>>>>>> only FA in their top 50 while signing two others away from other
> >>>>>>>> teams:
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> 7. WR MIKE WILLIAMS, LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
> >>>>>>>> Prediction: Los Angeles Chargers – Four years, $68 million ($38
> >>>>>>>> million guaranteed)
> >>>>>>>> Williams had the best year of his career under Joe Lombardi’s
> >>>>>>>> Saints-inspired scheme. While he kept his downfield role, he also
> >>>>>>>> worked underneath routes. This led to a drop in his yards per
> >>>>>>>> reception, but it helped him to set new career records in
> >>>>>>>> receptions (76) and receiving yards (1,146).
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> There is a good chance the Chargers franchise tag Williams in an
> >>>>>>>> effort to negotiate a long-term deal before the mid-July deadline.
> >>>>>>>> They could also let Williams play out his franchise tag to see if
> >>>>>>>> he can replicate his 2021 production before shelling out big money.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> 23. DT AKIEM HICKS, CHICAGO BEARS
> >>>>>>>> Prediction: Los Angeles Chargers – Two years, $17 million ($12.5
> >>>>>>>> million guaranteed)
> >>>>>>>> Hicks has regressed since his terrific 2018 season. Health has
> >>>>>>>> been his biggest issue, as he’s missed 20 games over the last
> >>>>>>>> three years. While he doesn't possess great volume statistics,
> >>>>>>>> he’s still effective on a per-play basis. In 2021, he recorded a
> >>>>>>>> 10.6% pressure rate, which is on par with the 10.7% he recorded in
> >>>>>>>> 2018. He could still be a big asset, but he needs to stay healthy.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> Enter the Chargers. Head coach Brandon Staley has familiarity with
> >>>>>>>> Hicks dating back to his time as linebackers coach for the Bears
> >>>>>>>> in 2017-18. Hicks would help to solve the Chargers' run defense
> >>>>>>>> woes while also giving them an interior pass-rusher — something
> >>>>>>>> they’ve lacked for years.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> 43. TE DAVID NJOKU, CLEVELAND BROWNS
> >>>>>>>> Prediction: Los Angeles Chargers – Three years, $37.5 million,
> >>>>>>>> ($25.5 million guaranteed)
> >>>>>>>> Njoku hasn’t quite panned out the way the Browns might’ve wanted
> >>>>>>>> him to, but it’s tough to deny his upside and improvement over the
> >>>>>>>> last couple of years. Standing 6-foot-4 and running a 4.64-second
> >>>>>>>> 40-yard dash, Njoku's athleticism will be welcomed by most teams
> >>>>>>>> that need a tight end.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> One of those teams could be the Chargers. Jared Cook offers a
> >>>>>>>> similar athletic-type build, and while Njoku could be a bit
> >>>>>>>> pricier, he has more upside and could break out after catching
> >>>>>>>> passes from Justin Herbert.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Very much hope the Chargers re-sign Williams.
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> While I'm not familiar with Njoku, that's a lot of money to pay a TE.
> >>>>>>> The Chargers' letting Henry go suggests to me that they don't want to
> >>>>>>> pay that kind of money for a TE.
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> --Robin
> >>>>>> He tore up the Chargers' defense in that shootout with Cleveland
> >>>>>> this past season, to the tune of 7 catches for 149 yards including a
> >>>>>> 71 yard touchdown reception. But I agree the Chargers aren't likely
> >>>>>> to spend that amount of money at the position unless they see him as
> >>>>>> a missing puzzle piece to a Super Bowl contender.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Michael
> >>>>> Update: The Browns gave Njoku the franchise tag so he won't be a
> >>>>> Charger -
> >>>>> https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/33446043/cleveland-browns-use-franchise-tag-te-david-njoku
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> There are a lot of reports that the Chargers will tag Williams before
> >>>>> tomorrow's deadline, which gives them some time to work on a long
> >>>>> term deal with him.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Michael
> >>>>
> >>>> Update to the update about Williams:
> >>>> https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1501267172886294535
> >>>>
> >>>> Ian Rapoport
> >>>> @RapSheet
> >>>> Sources: The #Chargers and star WR Mike Williams are closing in on a
> >>>> huge new contract extension to beat the franchise tag deadline and
> >>>> keep him in LA for years to come.
> >>>> 10:42 AM · Mar 8, 2022·TweetDeck
> >>>>
> >>>> Michael
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Wow again. Even double wow:
> >>>
> >>> Chargers, WR Mike Williams agree on 3-year, $60 million contract
> >>> extension. (via @RapSheet)
> >>>
> >>> https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1501269708695298051
> >>>
> >>>
> >> Daniel Popper @danielrpopper
> >>
> >> #Chargers are signing WR Mike Williams to a three-year, $60 million deal
> >> with $40 million fully guaranteed at signing, source confirms.
> >>
> >> 2:01 PM · Mar 8, 2022
> >
> > ESPN story on the signing from Shelley Smith:
> > https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/33454409/source-los-angeles-chargers-agree-3-year-60m-deal-wr-mike-williams
> >
> > Source: Los Angeles Chargers agree to 3-year, $60M deal with WR Mike Williams
> > 11:02 AM PT
> > ESPN
> >
> > The Los Angeles Chargers and wide receiver Mike Williams have reached agreement on a three-year, $60 million deal that includes $40 million guaranteed and $28 million in Year 1, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
> >
> > Williams made a base salary of $15.68 million last season after the Chargers picked up his fifth-year option.
> >
> > He is coming off the best season of his five-year career, setting career highs with 76 receptions and 1,146 yards while adding nine touchdown receptions, one short of his previous career best. He had 27 more catches and 145 more yards than his previous highs entering the 2021 season.
> >
> > The 27-year-old had six tying or go-ahead touchdown receptions this past season, the most in the league since Sterling Sharpe in 1989.
> >
> > Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert looked to the 6-foot-4 playmaker in the clutch, and Williams delivered. He created space on a 53-yard touchdown catch with 2:03 remaining in a 41-37 victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 11. Williams also had a game-tying 12-yard TD catch on the final play of regulation against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 18.
> >
> > And rather than strictly relying on his size and jumping ability on contested throws, the Chargers entrusted Williams to "flip the script," in his own words, and got the ball to him on a lot of quick, short routes.
> >
> > It worked. Williams had big games against the Kansas City Chiefs (7 catches, 122 yards, 2 TDs) and Cleveland Browns (8 catches, 165 yards, 2 TDs).
> >
> > Williams has missed only four games since his 2017 rookie season, which was largely derailed because of injury after he was the No. 7 pick in the draft. In his five seasons with the Chargers, Williams has 227 catches for 3,662 yards -- an average of 16.1 yards per catch -- and 27 total touchdowns.
> >
> > Information from ESPN's Shelley Smith was used in this report.
> >
> I am very interested in how the money is structured. Assuming that a lot
> of the $28M for year 1 is a signing bonus, that will be prorated over
> the three years of the contract for the purpose of the salary cap.
>
> --Robin

A three year deal makes a lot of sense for the team and Williams - for the team, the deal will end after Herbert's fifth year option, when they'll have to pay Justin the big bucks (of course, odds are that they reach an extension sometime early in his fourth year but that's also why it would make sense to frontload Mike Dub's deal). For Williams, he'll be 30 at the end of the deal and in line for one more big contract.

Michael